Statement

IOC President Bach Condemns Kabul Attack

Monday, September 10, 2018 - 13:04 By IOC Media

Share this article

From IOC President Thomas Bach:

“I learnt with great sadness and horror today of the brutal attack on a wrestling centre in the Afghan capital, Kabul, that has left more than 20 people dead and dozens wounded.  I strongly condemn this cowardly attack on young people and on sport. The young wrestlers were there as part of a peaceful competition, and this is a direct attack on sport itself and its values. Their deaths go straight to our hearts, and these innocent victims and their friends and loved ones are in our thoughts this evening. We mourn together with them, and I would like to express our deepest sympathy and condolences, from me personally and from the entire Olympic Movement.

The International Olympic Committee, together with United World Wrestling, has already begun to explore the best ways to offer immediate help and assistance to all those affected."

https://www.olympic.org/news/statement-from-the-ioc-president

#WrestleParis

Olympic champion Focken carries Olympic torch for Paris 2024

Thursday, June 27, 2024 - 09:38 By Vinay Siwach

Share this article

ALSACE, France (June 27) -- Tokyo Olympic champion Aline FOCKEN (GER) was part of the Olympic Torch Relay on Wednesday in Alsace, stage 41 of the relay for the 2024 Paris Games.

"It was magical," Focken said. "It was a short run for only a few minutes but I enjoyed it. I felt the Olympic spirit and pride to run with the torch. We were briefed a lot, about the significance of the torch and it's for peace and I felt it all the time. It was special."

The relay began from the European Parliament and then passed in front of the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. It also lit up the city’s covered bridges, the Grande île district, the Alsatian Museum and the Notre Dame gothic cathedral before finishing at Place Kléber, in the city’s heart, where the celebration venue was located.

 

The Olympic Torch Relay continued its voyage through eastern France with a distinctly European tone. In addition to putting the spotlight on the gems of Alsace, the Olympic Torch Relay also highlighted fraternity between people, such as Franco-German links, which were celebrated during an exceptional collective relay on the Three Countries Bridge in Huningue. Another collective relay took place in Strasbourg, dedicated, as each day, to a specific sport.

Focken carried the torch at the start of the three country bridge for 250 metres. The starting point of Focken's run was in Germany while her finish was in France. She then handed over the Olympic Torch to Frenchman Eric Kueny, representative of the host country in Huningue.

Aline FOCKEN (GER)Aline FOCKEN (GER) with the Olympic torch on Wednesday. (Photo: Lewis Joly)

Focken, who won the gold medal in 76kg weight class in Tokyo, became the first woman from Germany to win gold at the Olympics in wrestling. She said her feeling was similar to Olympic Games but she was nervous before the run.

"I was nervous," she said. "It's different and all the TV is around you. I was relaxed but nervous. It was a really special moment and I thought that this may be the last Olympic moment for you so just enjoy it. I took my family with me to the relay."